Because you're a big fan of the movie this might interest you: Peter Ostrum (Charlie) lives in my neighborhood (in rural Northern New York) — specifically, I think he lives one town over, about ten miles from me, and operates his business in the town where I live. I've run into him once or twice (we go to the same mechanic), but never really spoke with him except to say "hi." He seems to be a nice, friendly guy, but a little quiet. He's a large-animal veterinarian (e.g., horses and cattle), but he visits one of the local schools every year or so to discuss acting. Otherwise, from what I've heard, he doesn't really like to talk much about his brief acting career.

I didn't see the movie until I was an adult, so it doesn't hold the same degree of wonderment for me as it might otherwise have had, but I do enjoy the film. Gene Wilder brings an avuncular energy to his character while simultaneously being legitimately insane. He straddles that fine line between "eccentric" and "lunatic." I've never seen Tim Burton's reimagined version or read the original book, but maybe I'll do so one of these days to see how it all compares.